Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata on the Peoples/North Shore Gas Rate Hike

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Jan 10, 2012, 05:17 ET

CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) plans to appeal an Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) decision today granting rate hikes for Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. While CUB is trying to determine a final number, the ICC voted for a rate hike greater than an administrative law judge's recommendation of a $60 million increase.

Today's ICC ruling is a mixed bag. While it's good that Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas didn't get as much as they wanted, it's disappointing that the ICC gave the companies higher increases than what they needed or deserved. While the utilities' parent company, Integrys, saw an 81 percent increase in third-quarter profits (from $20.4 million in the third quarter of 2010 to $36.9 million in 2011), Chicagoland gas customers are struggling in a tough economy. The rate increases come at the worst possible time for consumers, hitting bills in the heart of the Chicago winter. We look forward to fighting this case on appeal.

This past February, Peoples and North Shore filed for a $134 million gas rate hike, which was whittled down to $120 million over the course of the case.

These "delivery" rate hikes increase what the companies charge to deliver gas to homes. Those charges take up about a third of a gas bill. The other two-thirds, roughly, is taken up by the price of the actual gas.

CUB is Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog organization. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has saved consumers more than $10 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds over the years. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit CUB's award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.

For money-saving advice and consumer tips, visit www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org!

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SOURCE Citizens Utility Board